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JOSEPH A. ROBBINS, OF BGSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No.v 88,984, dated Av1-il 13, 1869.

STOCKING-SUPPORTER To all to whom these presents shall come:

Be it known that I, Josnrn A. Ronrxs, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have made an invention otl a new and useful device for supporting amlmaintaining in a proper position, a stocking upon the leg of the wearer; and do hereby declare the following to be a fhll, clear, and exact description thereof, due reference being had to the accompunyin g drawing, making part of this specification, and which is a perspective view of my invention.

The invention consists in two metallic plates applied to opposite ends of a short elastic strap, the outer extremities of these plates being formed with a series of hooks, or their equivalents, for taking into the material of the stocking, in manner as hereinafter explained.

In the drawings before mentioned, a denotes a short strap, of any suitable elastic material, having axed in a proper manner to each of its extremities, a metallic plate, l) or b', the outer edges or extremities of such plates being formed into a series of hooked teeth, c c c, Ste.

In applying the device, one of the metallic plates is to be inserted or hooked into the* upper front part of the leg cf the stocking, at about the height at which the ordinary garter is now applied.

The elastic strap is next stretched to about its fullest extent, and the opposite plate hooked into the stocking-leg.

The e'ect of this application of the device, is to contract the leg ofthe stocking tightly about the leg of the wearer, or with sufficient force to retain such stocking-leg np to its proper position under all circumstances.

The advantages of my present invention are- First, that it obviates or avoids the disagreeable, and oftentimes injurious effects of girdling the leg, as is the case in the use of the ordinary garter; or those whichentirely encircle the leg.

Another advantage of my invention, is the ease and expedition with which it may be applied, and its power of contracting the stocking about the leg, and adj usted or varied to suit different wear-ers.

I do not claim broadly the fastening, or tightening of garments upon the person, by means of an elastic band,with fastening-devices upon its end, passing partly around the body. 'llie distinctive feature of my inven tion, and that which gives it value, is that the fastener need not engage with auxiliary loops, or button-holes for receiving the hooks, but can be used upon anypart of the stocking, and at any height, without the aid of auxiliary devices, the hooked and pointed fasteningteeth readily penetrating and catching in the fabric of which the stocking is formed.

Therefore, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

As an improved article of manufacture, a stockingfastener, composed of an elastic hand extending partly around the leg, and provided at its end with a series of claws, or hooked'teeth, adapted to penetrate and catch in the fabric of which the stocking is formed, as and for the purposes specied.

JOSEPH A. ROBBINS.

Witnesses:

Guo. A. Lonnie,

FRED. CURTIS. 

